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The dying tradition of brass bands and fading generations of artists who have kept this art form alive, have found a voice in the latest Konkani film on the cinematic block, ‘Benddkaar - The Musician’, which is scheduled to hit the silver screen on November 13 at 7. 30 pm at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. The film premiered in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Qatar in the past weeks. The premier in Israel is planned for later this month.
Directed by Harry Fernandes, ‘Benddkaar - The Musician’ which stars three of the top actors in the regional film industry - Varsha Usgaonkar, Prince Jacob and comedian John D’Silva. The story blends an element of nostalgia with the contemporary challenges faced by brass band players, through a musician named Jacob, who is the movie’s main protagonist played by Prince Jacob himself.
“The protagonist of this movie wants to honour and save the tradition of the ‘Benddkaar’ and to do so Jacob wishes to pass on his skill to his younger brother, who happens to despise the very profession. The whole story revolves around as to how does Jacob, with his wife, tries to make his brother fall in love with the brass band tradition and at the same time resolve a host of issues faced by his team of brass band musicians as well,” says Harry.
“The skill of being a brass band Benddkaar has been passed through many generations. But in today’s world, people would rather prefer having an alternate form for music entertainment, rather than hiring a brass band for any occasion. Hence, the demand for a brass band is reduced by the day. The new generation does not like to play wind instruments as part of brass band groups, as they feel it is not on par with their standards,” says Prince Jacob.
Apart from Varsha Usgaonkar, Prince Jacob and John D’Silva, the rest of the film’s cast, who are contributing to the revival of the dying Goan tradition by their presence are Kevin D’Mello, debutant Naisa Lotlekar of ‘Voice of Goa’ fame, Dubai-based actors Deepak Paladka, Joseph Mathias, Sunita Menezes and Claud D’Leema, Cyril Castelino, Sneha Metha, Sujatha Andrade, Alwyn Andrade, Manu Bantwal, Nikita Peris, Dolphy D’Souza, Ivan Furtado, Hannah Furtado, Archibald Furtado, Salomi Alvares, Floyd Cascia and the famous Jolly Brass Band of Perampalli.
The film will also appeal to a much wider Konkani audience on account of Stany Alvares, a popular actor from Mangalore, who is also a part of the cast. Through its plot and narrative, the film carries on its shoulders the sensitive responsibility of reviving the dying art-form, the brass band.
Harry Fernandes earlier directed Konkani hits like Noshibacho Khell, Zanvoy No1 and Karnataka government’s best regional award winning him film Sophiya. Sophiya also bagged the best actress and best script writer award from Hyssna Global Konkani Cine Awards which was organised by Mandd Sobhann Group, Mangalore. In addition to that Harry has also directed a Manisha Koirala starrer Hindi movie – Madhyamverg and a Bhojpuri film.
“We look forward to the audience to appreciate the unsung efforts of brass band players across generations, who have provided musical accompaniment to all those hundreds of thousands of joyous occasions like weddings and sad occasions like funerals. Not only do they deserve their due, brass band players also deserve that their tradition and legacy survives the generations to come,” says Varsha Usgaonkar.
